Rules of Karva Chauth Fasting

Karva Chauth Fasting is observed from sunrise to sighting of
the moon on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha of Kartik Month as per
traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India.
Here are the important rules regarding Karva Chauth fasting.

Unmarried women are not supposed to observe Karva Chauth.

Women who are pregnant, working or are under treatment for
any sort of medical problems should not observe complete fast. They should opt for
partial fast.

The fast begins early morning with sunrise.

After self purification, one should prepare a thali (large
plate) – in it one should keep a small pot filled with water, in a mud pot one
should keep few wheat grains, in a small vessel one should keep sugar, and
finally a token amount of money.

One should then offer prayers to Ganesha with roli, rice and
jaggery.

Using the roli one should create a swastika symbol on the
Karva and one should also keep 13 bindi on the karva. The person observing the
fast should also stick a bindi on the forehead.

Fasting is continued.

In the evening or whenever the Karva Chauth Story is heard,
the person observing fast should hold 13 wheat grains in her hand. The thali
should be kept nearby.

After hearing the story, the person should give the Karva,
the grains in her hand and the token amount to eldest female member in the
family or the person who narrated the story.

The pot containing water and the wheat grains in the karva pot
should be kept separate.

On sighting the moon in the evening, the wheat grains should
be put in water and offered to moon by raising your arms.